Thermoformed reusable package having a reclosable lid

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION COMPRISES A THERMOFORMED REUSABLE PACKAGE HAVING A RECLOSABLE LID. THE PACKAGE IS FORMED TO ACCEPT A SET OF SHAPED FOOD ITEMS. THE LID IS ALSO SHAPED TO THE SHAPE OF THE FOOD ITEMS EXCEPT FOR AN OPAQUE AREA OF THE LID WHICH CARRIES DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION.

July 11, 1972 D. FALLOWFIELD 3,676,159

THERMOFORMED REUSABLE PACKAGE HAVING A RECLOSABLE LID Filed April 27,1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR DEREK 5U. OWFIELD BY Wm. 9.

ATTOR EY y 11, 1972 D. FALLOWFIELD 3,676,159

THERMOFORMED REUSABLE PACKAGE HAVING A RECLOSABLE LID Filed April 27,1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,676,159 THERMOFORMEDREUSABLE PACKAGE HAVING A RECLOSABLE LID Derek Fallowfield, Oakville,Ontario, Canada, assignor to W. R. Grace & 00., Duncan, S.C. Filed Apr.27, 1970, Ser. No. 32,227 Int. Cl. B65b 25/06 US. Cl. 99-174 6 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a thermoformedreusable package having a reclosable lid. The package is formed toaccept a set of shaped food items. The lid is also shaped to the shapeof the food items except for an opaque area of the lid which carriesdescriptive information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a shapedreclosable and reusable package. A tray and lid are shaped so as tocontact the contained item and prevent the formation of condensation onthe interior container surfaces which would then shield the containeditem from view.

It is desirable in packaging many foods to have a container which can bereclosed so as to preserve that portion which is not being used. Thistype of a container provides for a faster opening and resealing,.andovercomes the disadvantage of repacking an unused portion for furtherstorage. The advantages are numerous. The cost of providing extra wrapmaterial is obviated; and in the use of the same container, anyinformation on the container is preserved. This information may beinstructions for use of the contents, critical dates for disposal, orjust what brand and product it is. However, although the containers ofthe present invention are of a reclosable type, a further and distinctmain advantage of these containers is that articles which must undergorefrigeration may be packaged in clear see-through packages without theformation of a vision shielding layer of condensation on the interiorsurfaces of the tray or lid. By forming the container tray and lid tothe same shape as the contained items, the items are always in anintimate contact with the container internal surfaces inhibiting theformation of any vision shielding condensation. The advantage incommerce is a clear pleasing appearance of the contained food item.

The prior art is well illustrated by US. Pats. 3,082,903 and 3,111,220.US. Pat. 3,082,903 shows a hinged, onepiece reclosable container. Theshape is not of a nature to accept any particular article. US. Pat.3,111,220 discloses a similar one-piece hinged container, but havingshaped recesses in the base. The present invention is directed to atwo-piece reclosable container wherein the body and lid are ofsubstantially the same shape as the items which it is to contain. And ina particular embodiment, it is directed to a container for sausage,frankfurters, luncheon meat or other food stuffs wherein, if thecontained item is not in an intimate contact with the interior packagesurface, an unappealing condensation forms, shielding the packaged itemfrom view. It is there- "ice fore necessary for these items which mustbe refrigerated that the item be in intimate contact with the interiorpackage wall wherever the package is transparent. It is further apreferred embodiment of the present invention also to coat the interiorsurfaces with a wetting agent. The containers of the cited patents,although being of the reclosable type, are not useful for packagingitems which must undergo refrigeration, and yet be appealing. In theprior art packages, a fog type of condensation will form on the innerpackage surface shielding the contents from consumer examination.

It is an object of this invention to provide a refrigerable, reclosableand resusable container.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a transparentcontainer which, when filled with moist items, will, on refrigeration,remain clear for efficient visual inspection.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a reclosable containerwherein the contained item is in an intimate contact with the interiorsurfaces of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a refrigerablereclosable container having a tray portion and a lid portion; these trayand lid portions being shaped to accept and remain in contact with theitems which are being packaged. The invention further comprises thecoating of the interior of this container with a wetting agent tofurther prevent the formation of a vision inhibiting condensation layeron the internal surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thecontainer with the lid in place on the container.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container and lid of FIG. '1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the package of FIG. 1, with areclosable wedge sealing means.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the package of FIG. 1, with a riband socket sealing means.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container with the lid in place, thelid having, a flat opaque space for decoration or descriptiveinformation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION More specifically, and in apreferred embodiment, this invention is directed to a package for aplurality of what are commonly designated as frankfurters or sausages.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the food package having a shaped trayportion 10 and a shaped lid portion 20. The tray portion 10 comprises inthis view substantially vertical sides 18 and 13, with side 18 beingupwardly and outwardly extending from the base and terminating in aflange area 17. Side 13 comprises an upwardly and outwardly extendingsection having a series of indentations 15 which serve to formcompartments on the inside of the package. These indentations 15 connectwith the base upwardly protruding indentation ridges 12 of FIG. 2. Thetray wall of side 13 also terminates in flange area 17. The lid 20comprises a horizontal flange 21 carrying tab 27 for convenient opening.Extending from the lid flange 21 is a substantially vertical sidewall 23connecting recessed lid surface 22. Lid surface 22 comprises shoulders24,

raised portions 25 and separating sections 26. The separating sections26 of the lid are in alignment with the tray sidewall indentations 15and serve to also form compartments within the package. In thispreferred embodiment, the compartments formed within the package readilyreceive from to frankfurters or sausages, hold them in a setorientation, and maintain them in contact with the internal surfaces ofthe container package.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the internal surfaces of the tray and lid. Thetray 10 consists of base portion 11, sidewalls 13, 14, 18 and 19 andflange area 17. The base surface 11 carries upwardly protrudingindentation ridges 12 which extend from sidewall 13 to sidewall 14.These indentation ridges 12 at sidewalls 13 and 14 meet the inwardlyprotruding indentations 15. These indentations further serve to form thecompartments for holding the frankfurters or sausages. The sidewalls 13and 14 at a point immediately below the flange area 17 have ledges 16which serve to give added support to the lid when it is being pressedinto place and when in place. When in a closed condition, ledges 16 ofthe tray contact ledges 24 of the lid. The lid 20 in this view comprisesthe flange 21 carrying tab 27, and the base surface 22 with portions 25and separating sections 26. In this view, since the internal surface ofthe lid is exposed, the portions 25 extend downwardly and the separatingsections 26 extend upwardly. These sections 26 terminate in ledges 24.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional elevational views of the package ofFIG. 1 with the lid 20 in place on the tray 10. The tray in eachembodiment comprises base 11 with upwardly extending indentations 12,and sidewalls 18 and 19 terminating in the flange area 17. The lid ineach figure comprises the flange 21, sidewall 23 and the lid surface 22which consists of the raised portions 25 and separating sections 26.Principally demonstrated in these figures are reclosable sealing means.In FIG. 3, the flange area 17 of the tray comprises the horizontalperipheral tray flange lying below and coinciding with lid flange 21, adownwardly and outwardly extending wall 28 terminating in a ledge 27.The lid is of a dimension such that sidewall 23 contacts wall 28 andledge 27 in a nesting, camming fit. FIG. 4 sets out a further reclosablesealing means. In this embodiment, the lid flange 21 carries rib 30.This rib friction fits into socket groove 29 in the flange area 17 ofthe tray. Further, in the use of either reclosable sealing means, thetray and lid flanges can be coated with a tacky non-curing adhesivewhich will provide an additional force for maintaining the lid 20 ontray 10.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container with the lid 20 in placeforming a complete package. In this embodiment, the lid 20 has aflattened area 31 which is opaque for carrying a logo, instructions forproduct use or for pricing data. However, it is necessary that anypackage surface which is not in a substantial contact with the packageditem, in this instance frankfurter or sausage pieces, be opaque. This isrequired since, if a transparent area is not in a substantial contactwith the packaged item, a vision inhibiting and unappealing condensationlayer will form on the internal package surfaces. Where the package isopaque, as in area 31, any condensation formation can not be visuallydetected. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the internal surfaces arealso coated with a wetting agent. Suitable wetting agents areethoxylated aliphatic alcohols of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Apreferred wetting agent is lauroyl alcohol which has been ethoxylatedwith from 2 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide.

The package of the present invention is most readily produced by atherrnoform molding technique. The tray portion and the lid portion areeach separately made. The specific technique is preferably that ofvacuum forming a heated plastic sheet material. Although any transparentthermoplastic material can be used, it is preferred to construct thepackages of an oriented polystyrene. This mate rial is highlytransparent, self-sustaining, relatively rigid, but yet resilient. Ifdistorted, it can be easily pressed back into its original form. Thethicknesses of the original material and of the end package aredependent on the packaging requirements. It is preferred that the finalpackage be of a thickness from about 4 mils to about 15 mils. Further,for some packaging requirements, the lid flange and tray flange area maybe of a greater thickness than the other parts of the package. Ingeneral, such variants are within the skill of those in the art and areencompassed by the present package.

What is claimed is:

1. A transparent reclosable package comprising:

(a) a tray comprising:

(1) a bottom surface divided into a series of sections by upwardindentations therein, said upward indentations being parallel one to theother and extending across said bottom surface;

(2) a first pair of side surfaces uprising from opposed ends of saidbottom surface, said opposed ends being those ends of the bottom surfacein which said indentations terminate, and said side surfaces having aseries of inward indentations corresponding to and connecting with saidindentations in said bottom surface;

(3) a second pair of side surfaces rising from opposed sides of saidbottom surface and connecting with the side surfaces of said first pairto form four corners in said tray; and

(4) a horizontal flange extending around and outwardly from the upperperimeter defined by the upper edges of said first and second pair ofside surfaces; and

(b) alid comprising:

(1) a peripheral horizontal flange which is coextensive with thehorizontal flange of said tray;

(2) a central area recessed from said peripheral lid flange and having aseries of raised sections in alignment with the series of correspondingsections in the bottom surface of said tray;

(3) a sidewall connecting said central area and said lid flange; and

(4) a planar opaque portion tangent to the raised sections in saidcentral area; and

(c) means for reclosing said lid to the tray.

2. The transparent container of claim 1 wherein the reclosing meanscomprises:

(i) a lid support ledge, the upper edges of said first pair of sidesurfaces terminating in said ledge;

(ii) a substantially vertical peripheral sidewall extending downwardlyand outwardly from said horizontal tray flange and terminating in saidlid support ledge; and

(iii) said lid sidewall extending downwardly and outwardly from said lidhorizontal flange whereby said lid sidewall will have a nesting, cammingfit against said tray peripheral sidewall when said lid is closed onsaid tray.

3. The transparent package of claim 1 wherein the reclosing meanscomprises:

(i) a continuous socket groove in said horizontal tray flange; and

(ii) a continuous protruding rib on said horizontal lid flange wherebyon placing said lid on said tray and exerting pressure, said rib enterssaid socket groove and is maintained in said groove.

4. The transparent package of claim 1 wherein both the tray and lid areconstructed of oriented polystyrene.

5. The transparent package of claim 1 wherein said indentations areformed to maintain a series of frankfurter shaped items in a pre-setorientation.

6. The transparent package of claim 1 wherein the internal surfaces ofsaid lid and said tray are coated with an ethoxylated lauryl alcoholwetting agent further preventing the formation of vision shieldingcondensation.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSAl-Roy 22060 Goller et a1. 99-171 (LP) X Ringlen 22060 Hackhel et 'al.99l71 CA UX Hein et a1 99-174 Eastes 99-171 (CA) X Thanhauser et a122060 Yates, Jr 22060 Rich et a1 99174 UX Whiteford 99177 UX Bennettet'al. 99171 ('R) X FRANK W. LUTTER, Primary Examiner S. L. WEINSTEIN,Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

99171 S, 171 CT, 171 MP, 171 CA; 22060; 206 45.34; 229-43

